2013 Comment Letters

AACC continually tracks legislative and regulatory issues of importance to clinical laboratories and the clinical laboratory profession. This is a listing of AACC's 2013 comment letters. AACC commented on a wide range of topics to federal and state authorities.

Legislative Issues

AACC endorsed Senate legislation reauthorization the federal newborn screening program

SEP.10.2013

AACC endorsed legislation supporting advances in newborn screening programs

MAY.07.2013

AACC urged congressional leaders to support federal funding for the National Children's Study

MAY.07.2013

AACC joined with the Friends of AHRQ in supporting the President's FY'14 budget request for AHRQ

APR.18.2013

AACC wrote to congressional leaders opposing an extension of the 1.75 percent cut in the lab CPI update

APR.16.2013

AACC joined with other Associations in opposing restrictions on federal employee attendance at educational meetings

MAR.18.2013

AACC objected to the adoption of a laboratory copayment

MAR.11.2013

AACC provided feedback to NCS regarding proposed Medicare edits

MAR.04.2013

AACC endorsed Senate legislation to repeal the medical device tax

FEB.26.2013

AACC endorsed legislation repealing the medical device excise tax

FEB.20.2013

AACC endorsed legislation eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which can implement cuts in Medicare payments without congressional involvement

FEB.04.2013

Regulatory Issues

AACC recommended that CMS reconsider including laboratory tests with the Ambulatory Payment Classification system

AUG.27.2013

AACC joined with other laboratory groups in opposing additional cuts in pathology services

AUG.23.2013

AACC wrote to CMS questioning the validity of its plan to reduce lab payments based on advances in technology

AUG.19.2013

AACC joined with the American Academy of Pain Medicine in opposing Palmetto's decision to stop reimbursing for specimen validity testing

JUL.26.2013

AACC joined with the Clinical Laboratory Coalition in raising objections to an OIG report recommending cuts in laboratory reimbursement

JUL.11.2013

AACC wrote to CMS express concerns about it was pricing the new molecular pathology codes

JUL.08.2013

AACC provided comments to CMS regarding changes to its PT rule

MAR.04.2013